Marvel: Beginning with the Collection of Shinra Tensei

"What?!"

As confusion gripped the group, Captain America suddenly caught sight of fiery glints rapidly enlarging in his vision. "Watch out!" he shouted.

The moment his warning echoed, several RPG rockets were fired from a nearby building, hurtling straight into their floor. A massive explosion erupted, sending shockwaves that hurled everyone across the room.

Han Yu and his team were also knocked back by the blast wave, landing hard on the floor. Though they coughed a few times due to the dense smoke, it became clear that none of them were actually injured.

"Pietro, you're surprisingly resilient. Not even a scratch?" Ultron remarked, glancing at Quicksilver.

Quicksilver dusted himself off, revealing he was entirely unharmed. "Of course! Check this out," he said, showing the inside of his clothes. A thin layer of green energy adhered seamlessly to the fabric, barely noticeable.

"I've gotten used to covering my body with Green Lantern energy. With my old physique, even a single bullet could've killed me. I mean, I'm a speedster—it'd be downright embarrassing to die from a gunshot, wouldn't it?"

Han Yu, still lying on the ground, couldn't help but laugh—not just at Quicksilver's remark, but also because he recalled a certain timeline. In that version of events, Quicksilver really did die from gunfire.

Back then, Han Yu had thought it absurd. A speedster killed by bullets? Who would believe that? It had to be the most humiliating end for a speedster he'd ever heard of.

"Boss, why are you still lying there?" Quicksilver asked, puzzled to see Han Yu still prone.

"Staying down for now. Otherwise, they won't show themselves," Han Yu replied with an exaggerated roll of his eyes. He even rolled around on the floor, covering himself in dust to look particularly disheveled.

Ultron and Quicksilver exchanged glances, finally catching on. If their attackers saw them unharmed, they'd be hesitant to reveal themselves.

Following Han Yu's lead, they both rolled on the ground, mimicking his battered appearance. By the time Captain America and Winter Soldier got back on their feet, Han Yu's group also stood up, looking sufficiently worse for wear.

"Enemy attack!"

The explosion had been so close that even Captain America and Winter Soldier—both enhanced individuals—were left dazed, with blurry vision and ringing ears. They hadn't noticed Han Yu's team's brief charade.

After seeing Han Yu and the others rise, Captain America and Winter Soldier split up to help Nick Fury and Natasha. The two weren't as durable; while they hadn't been directly hit by the blast, the shockwave had taken a significant toll.

As Nick Fury tried to stand, a wave of nausea surged through him, and he coughed up a mouthful of blood. Natasha, meanwhile, remained on the ground, unable to rise. Shrapnel from the explosion had lodged into her right calf, and the searing pain left her immobilized.

"How are you holding up?" Captain America asked Han Yu's group.

Han Yu and the others nodded, signaling they were fine.

Just then, the door to the room was forced open. Outside, bodies were strewn about—unmistakably lifeless.

A group of individuals entered, led by someone who was both familiar and unfamiliar. Seeing the leader's face, Han Yu, Ultron, and Quicksilver widened their eyes in astonishment.

It was Pierce. But Pierce's face bore a disturbingly familiar makeover: smoky eyeshadow paired with lipstick smudged almost to his ears. For Han Yu, this look was all too recognizable.

It was the signature makeup of Joker from Grand Theft Auto!

With a twisted grin, Pierce uttered a chilling line:

"Why so serious?"

These words came from Pierce's mouth, and while they might not have sounded particularly significant to others, to Han Yu, they were thunderous. It was the same iconic line spoken by the Joker in his past life!

"What exactly happened to this guy?"

Han Yu furrowed his brows. After Pierce had fled from the general store in fear that day, Han Yu hadn't bothered to chase after him. He figured someone of Pierce's rank within Hydra would surely be under S.H.I.E.L.D.'s surveillance and would eventually be captured.

But according to what Captain America had told him earlier, Pierce had lashed out violently after being captured, behaving in ways entirely inconsistent with his past demeanor.

Captain America believed it was a classic case of a cornered dog baring its fangs, exposing its true nature. At the time, Han Yu found that plausible. After all, being terrified out of his wits and having his years of planning ruined, such a reaction wasn't out of the ordinary.

However, seeing Pierce in this makeup now, Han Yu realized the situation wasn't so simple. He stepped forward, his expression dark. "Who taught you to apply this makeup?" he demanded.

Ultron and Quicksilver exchanged glances, both catching a peculiar tension in the air. Han Yu's tone carried a hint of anger that was hard to miss.

"What's wrong with the boss?" Ultron whispered.

"No idea," Quicksilver replied in a low voice. "Maybe he's mad about the explosion?"

"Obviously! Who wouldn't be upset after getting blown up?"

"Or maybe he's mad someone stole his character's look without permission?"

"I swear... among idiots, you're the most unique," Ultron muttered.

While the two whispered among themselves, Han Yu had already reached Pierce.

"Hey, so this is the legendary superhuman? What's the matter with you, all covered in dust? Aren't you supposed to be some lofty, untouchable being? You don't look the part," Pierce sneered, brushing the dust off Han Yu's clothes with mockery in his voice.

"I asked you—who taught you to do this makeup?" Han Yu grabbed Pierce by the neck, lifting him off the ground effortlessly.

Han Yu's urgency stemmed from one concern: if this makeup hadn't come from GTA but was instead taught by someone, he needed to find the source.

The original wearer of this makeup, the Joker, was a notorious villain in both comics and films. While it seemed unlikely, if the Joker had somehow entered this world, it would spell utter chaos.

One "simple and honest" Gotham City was already enough for the world. Han Yu didn't want his current home to turn into another one. While such chaos wouldn't directly harm him, he wasn't willing to tolerate it. This was his city—any threat here would be dealt with decisively.

"Oh, you better be careful," Pierce chuckled, even with Han Yu's hand tightening around his throat. "I've planted bombs on every floor. No matter how fast you are, I can guarantee I'll press the detonator before I die."

Despite his precarious position, Pierce continued to sneer and mock Han Yu. When the latter didn't immediately act, Pierce assumed he was scared and burst into maniacal laughter.

"What's wrong? Not so tough now, are you? I've gone through all this trouble just to draw you out! And I know how powerful you are, which is why I made sure there'd be plenty of people to bury with me. Come on! Crush my neck! Let's all die together!"

Han Yu raised his head, his cold gaze making even the deranged Pierce shudder involuntarily. Genuine fear began to creep into Pierce's heart as he saw Han Yu's lips curl into a chilling smile.

"Pietro," Han Yu said calmly, "the bombs—deal with them."

"No problem, boss!"

In the blink of an eye, Quicksilver appeared in front of Pierce, holding a pile of bombs. Pierce recognized them instantly—they were the very explosives he had ordered to be planted on each floor!

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